City agency begins move into new facility
By JESSICA KELLER
ARGUS OBSERVER
JessicaK@argusobserver.com
Saturday, September 26, 2009 11:06 PM PDT
ONTARIO—Ontario Public Works Operations Manager John Bishop has never coordinated a move as large as the one he is now.
The city’s purchase of property for a new city public works shop was completed Sept. 1, and since then Bishop and his crews have been busy transferring the contents of the old city shop on North Oregon Street to the new location off of North Oregon Street at 1551 N.W. Ninth St.
“There’s really a lot to do,” Bishop said of the move. “You really don’t think of it in a move like this. There’s quite a bit more than I anticipated.”
Bishop said usually two to four crew members have been dedicating their time daily since the beginning of the month to moving equipment from the old city shop buildings to the new one as well as preparing the building for occupancy.
“So, on Oct. 5, we will be working out of this office,” Bishop said.
The property — eight acres, which the city purchased for $750,000 — has 3,000 square feet of office space; 10,000 square feet of shop space, including an area designed specifically for welding, which the current city shop does not have; and a three-sided pole storage building with 4,000 square feet.
This week, city crews completed concrete work for a sidewalk, and carpet was installed and painting finished. Internet and telephone system transfer will be completed this week, along with regular moving of materials and equipment. Bishop said he envisioned another week or week and a half will be dedicated to moving all the city gravel from the Union Pacific railroad right-of-way to the current location.
“We’re going to be spread out over all eight acres,” Bishop said, adding, in the future, some of the extra acreage could be used for other purposes.
Bishop said it has always been the city’s goal to better serve the public, and the new location and building do that on a number of levels.
“I think it better serves the public to get our public works operations out of a residential area,” he said.
He added, in the winter, staff could be going in and out at all times of day.
Plus, he said, the new location provides all the space needed for equipment and vehicles, which the current, cramped city shop does not.
“I just think it’s going to be a huge improvement to where we’re at.”
Jessica Keller is the News Editor of the Argus Observer. She can be contacted at JessicaK@argusobserver.com. Check out more local news at www.argusobserver.com
